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Paleoproterozoic Era
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Table 4: Geologic time scale. To see more information about a period, select one from the chart. A detailed geologic time scale chart displaying Earth's history from the Hadean Eon over 4.5 billion years ago to the present, organized by eons, eras, periods, epochs, and ages with color-coded columns and corresponding dates in millions of years. A chart showing the Proterozoic eon on the geologic time scale, divided into Paleoproterozoic, Mesoproterozoic, and Neoproterozoic eras with their respective periods and the millions of years ago each period began, ranging from 2,500 to about 539 million years ago.
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Paleoproterozoic Era

geochronology
Also known as: Early Proterozoic Era
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Table 4: Geologic time scale. To see more information about a period, select one from the chart.
Table 4: Geologic time scale. To see more information about a period, select one from the chart.

The Paleoproterozoic Era is a division of geologic time within the Proterozoic Eon, spanning from approximately 2.5 billion to 1.6 billion years ago. This era is characterized by significant geological events, including the development of plate tectonics and the formation of large continental blocks.1234

A key environmental development during this period was the oxygenation of Earth's atmosphere. Evidence suggests that by the beginning of the Paleoproterozoic, oxygen levels had risen sufficiently to support oxidative weathering, as indicated by the presence of hematite-rich soils and red beds. The formation of banded-iron formations (BIFs) also provides insights into the changing chemistry of the oceans and atmosphere during this time.5

Correlating rock strata from the Paleoproterozoic is challenging due to the scarcity of fossils. Instead, geochronology, particularly zircon dating, is crucial for comparing and dating rocks across different regions and continents.67

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8 Britannica Sources
  1. Precambrian - Major subdivisions of the Precambrian System
  2. Precambrian - Oxygenation of the atmosphere
  3. Precambrian - Proterozoic plate movements
  4. Precambrian - Archean crustal growth
  5. era
  6. Tertiary Period - Correlation of Tertiary strata
  7. Precambrian - Correlation of Precambrian strata
  8. dating - Double uranium-lead chronometers

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